Mount Seorak sees first autumn snow as temperatures drop

A branch office of the Korea National Park Service on Mount Seorak said it observed snow from 7:30 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, with one centimeter (0.39 inches) of precipitation.

Snow covers the ground on Mount Seorak in Gangwon on Sunday morning. A branch office of the Korea National Park Service in Seorak-dong in Gangwon said the mountain received approximately one centimeter (0.39 inches) of snow between Saturday and Sunday. [SEORAKSAN NATIONAL PARK OFFICE]

Mount Seorak in Gangwon saw its first autumn snowfall overnight on Saturday.

A branch office of the Korea National Park Service on Mount Seorak said it observed snow from 7:30 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, with one centimeter (0.39 inches) of precipitation. The snow came two days earlier than last year as the overnight temperature between Saturday and Sunday dropped below zero.

The morning low of Mount Seorak on Sunday was minus 2.6 degrees Celsius (27.32 degrees Fahrenheit), with a perceived temperature of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued this fall’s first cold wave advisory for northern Gangwon’s highland and mountainous regions, effective 11 p.m. on Saturday. The state weather agency lifted the advisory at 9 a.m. the following morning.

A relatively cold air mass from the northern hemisphere arrived in Korea as low air pressure and rain clouds exited after drenching the nation on Friday.

On Sunday, Seoul’s morning low was 10.5 degrees Celsius. The daytime high remained at 17.8 degrees Celsius — two degrees Celsius lower than in average years.

The country’s southern Jeju Island also saw its daily high temperature plummet from 31.3 degrees Celsius on Friday to 20.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

The KMA said more rain would soak the country early next week. The rain will start from southern regions on Monday and expand nationwide by Tuesday.

The weather agency said Jeju Island would be expected to receive 30 to 80 millimeters (1.18 to 3.14 inches) of rain through Tuesday. The greater Seoul area and Gangwon will likely see between five and 50 millimeters of precipitation.

A KMA official said the country’s southern regions — South Jeolla, South Gyeongsang and Jeju Island — could see heavy rain on Tuesday accompanied by lightning, thunder and gusts. The official warned of potential flood damage due to fallen autumn leaves blocking drainage.

BY CHUN KWON-PIL, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]